Pointless Update

I am no longer a teenager, which makes me feel weird.  Honestly, when people ask me how old I am, I still want to reply, "19!" but I can't.  I'm 20. The big two zero.  That number seems so large and ominous, like a fourth of my life just whizzed by in a blink of an eye.

When I was younger, the age of 20 seemed so far away.  Even two days ago, 20 seemed so far away.  I liked being a teenager, because people expected teenagers to mess up, to make mistakes and learn from them.  When you reach 20, it's supposed to be different.  You're supposed to grow up, and that right there is what I'm afraid of.

I don't want to grow up.  I'm pretty sure half of the adults I've met haven't wanted to grow up either.  After college is when all the big decisions come into play, where you start to meld into the ever changing society.  Eventually, us kids will become those adults we hate.  The ones who tell us what to do and how to do it.  It will not be a fun process.

I know I haven't blogged in awhile.  I should do it more often, but it's hard when there is so much pressure from school.  I have constant reading and papers.  It really is starting to drive me crazy.  Last week I had a break, yet I feel like I need another one.  

A Day In No Life

Slowly, I am becoming a major slacker.  Well, actually I'm pretty much already one.  It brings to mind that teacher in the Back to the Future movies who always yells at Marty.

Since I've been home for the break, the highlight of my week was when I was forced to go to Walmart yesterday.  The joys I have when I come home.  However, I did happen to watch an amazing movie, I'm sure to everyone's surprise.  It seems that's all I do, no matter where I am, where I go, or what I do.  

When I visited my sister in California, we tried watching a different movie every night (try being the key word. Usually I was so e

xhausted by the time we ended up watching it that I practically passed out by the time any movie was over.)  When my parents come visit me at school, somehow or other, we go to the movies.  It's like the go to entertainment of my life.

Even tonight, I'm going to visit my friend Carrie, where we will, inevitably, watch a movie.  I woke up today...and watched a movie.  I have no life.

So yes, I am a huge nerd when it comes to movies, but sometimes I'm a little slow on the bandwagon to watch them when they originally come out.  I watched Garden State.  I had always heard excellent reviews about it, but I never actually got around to watching it.

It stars Natalie Portman, and she honestly is one of my favorit

e actors.  I loved her in Where the Heart Is and Anywhere But Here.  Even Zach Braff, who I only know from Scrubs and The Last Kiss, was the major lead of the movie.  It was so different than what I expected!

It was good, though, so if you're like me and haven't seen it, you should.  It's somewhat depressing but it has a good ending, I can promise you that.  Zach Braff wrote it, which surprised me, in a good way.  I didn't know how much talent he really had, but it definitely shows with the screenplay. 

Like always, when I recommend a movie, I'm going to feed you the same line.  Go see it, you won't be disappointed. 

La Strada

La Strada stands out as one of the best movies I've ever seen.  To be honest, in my European Screen Artists class, I wasn't sure what to expect, movie wise.  But when the lights dimmed and the movie began, I was captivated from start to finish.

It was directed by Federico Fellini, whose works are often celebrated in Cahiers du Cinema's   Top 100 Greatest Films lists (Cahiers du Cinema is a French magazine that's been around since 1951.  It literally means Film Notebook).  However, this piece isn't one of them, which really is a shame, because it's that good.

The story revolves around a Chaplin-esque girl named Gelsomina, who must marry Zampano, a tall, strong man who offers her mother 10,000 lire to take Gelsomina with him.  He travels by motorcycle, carrying a trailer behind it.  

Zampano is a cruel man who yells, abuses, and scares Gelsomina.  They travel through cities to put on shows, where he breaks chains with his chest.  She is the bumbling assistant dressed as a clown.

Gelsomina isn't your everyday person, however, and she's quickly distinguishable.  She becomes amused by the smallest wonders, smiles a lot, but also feels like no one wants her.

She meets a tightrope walker one day, and he teaches her that everything, and everyone, has a purpose, even a small pebble on the side of the road.  Zampano doesn't like him though, especially after the walker ruins his show one day.  That rage leads to quite an  unexpected ending.

Just go and watch this movie.  It's one of those movies you won't be disappointed with.  You will laugh, and you might just cry, but you definitely won't forget it. 

I'm still here!

I know I haven't been posting as much on here lately, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that most of my classes are at night this semester.  I may have the added luxury of getting Fridays off but I also have to read a bazillion pages (which I totally do, kind of, ish), watch movies outside of class, and do small papers.  I feel like I should devote at least two times a week to this, though, and I hope more updates will be coming soon.

I have to write an op-ed piece for my journalism class, something I'm really interested in, because we get to choose the subject.  So many choices are just waiting out there!  I have no idea what I'm going to do, but I think I need to hurry, considering it's due Tuesday.  (Seriously, if anyone has an idea, let me know)

I'm starting to get really worried about ever finding a job, too.  I know I had this problem last semester, too, but this time I went in prepared.  I went to about ten different job sites to fill out applications, and I did them all on the same day.  I went in with a smile, and hoped for the best.  I even managed to scored an on the spot interview for the pet store.  Still, I wait for a phone call, and it's driving me nuts.  Why is it so hard to get a job at the mall?  Is it really that competitive that no one will give me a chance?  I hate the economy and it's current situation.  It's not doing me any good.

On the plus side, I realized how amazing the school pool is.  That has nothing to do with my unemployment status, but today my friends and I hurried over and dived right in.  The water didn't feel cold and people were there just to have a good time.   Who knew how amazing swimming in winter would feel?  I'm sure it's something we will continue as the semester goes by.  

Hopefully, I will be posting more than what I have been.  I just hate writing about stupid subjects (even though today's is pretty bad).  I forget a lot too.  Keep checking in, though.  Maybe you'll be in for a surprise.